Disclaimer: London Drum has no association with The City. Whilst we make every effort to ensure the event information is accurate, firework displays in London are sometimes cancelled or amended without us being notified. You should always reconfirm the fireworks display with The City before making plans

The Lord Mayor's Show is one of the world's longest running pageants -- nearly 800 years old and still going strong. It takes place every year and is when the new Lord Mayor of London gets sworn into office (not to be confused with the Mayor of London -- which is a totally different office). The parade features everything from military bands and acrobats, to decorated floats and the Gold State Coach.

The day will start with a River Pageant at 9 AM. The new Lord Mayor will travel to the City in a flotilla of traditional barges and boats, including the famous Gloriana. Tower Bridge will open up in salute at 9.25 AM, and the Lord Mayor will disembark at HMS President at 9.35 AM.

The main road procession will start at Mansion House at 11 AM, and head down Poultry and Cheapside, before turning left past One New Change, and then down the side of St. Paul's along St. Paul's Churchyard (where the grandstands will be -- if you want to sit in the grandstands then you need to book a ticket in advance from lordmayorsshow.london).

The Gold State coach will set off a little later -- leaving Guildhall at around 11:45 AM. It will join the back of the procession at roughly 12:06 PM.

When the Lord Mayor passes St. Paul's at roughly 12:17 PM he will pause briefly to receive a blessing, and then he will head down Ludgate Hill and Fleet Street towards the Royal Courts of Justice. The head of the procession will have reached there long before (at 11:27 AM), but the Lord Mayor won't get there until one hour later (at roughly 12:38 PM). He will then take an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

The parade will then form up again along the Victoria Embankment (just past Temple Station), and set off at around 1 PM. It will then head along the river and back towards Mansion House via Queen Victoria Street, arriving sometime between 2 and 2.30 PM.

The day will end with a huge firework display over the river between 5.15 PM and 5.30 PM. The best vantage points will be between Waterloo and Blackfriar's Bridge (standing on either the South Bank or Victoria Embankment).

Guest – “Where is the best place to watch the Lord Mayors show procession from”

Admin – “It's a fairly long route, stretching all the way from Mansion House, down past St. Paul's, and on to the Royal Courts of Justice, so you can see the procession all along that route.But the actual action (the ceremonial parts) take place outside St. Paul's and the Royal Courts of Justice. If I had to recommend one of those two then I would go for St. Paul's, because there's a big semi-circular area in front of the steps. You will likely be able to see more of what's going on -- but the grandstand seats cost money. You need to book them -- purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase ... id=8267298. [Note: The grandstands aren't outside the front steps, they are down the side of the cathedral along St. Paul's Churchyard.]The main ceremony takes place outside the Royal Courts of Justice.But remember there's also some boats to see along the river, plus the fireworks. The best place for the boats is wherever you can see Tower Bridge, because it will open up to let them through. The fireworks are best seen along the riverbank between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars.”